Osaka: "Now I know where I want to take my tennis"
The Japanese player reflects deeply in Toronto on how tennis has evolved, talks about her coach, and reveals her expectations for the US Open.
Naomi Osaka wants to be a protagonist at the WTA 1000 Toronto 2026, continuing her upward trend and positioning herself as a contender for everything. The Japanese player does not give up on her dream of winning a major title again and offered interesting reflections in a press conference, with her sights set on the US Open.
After a few months in which she has left very positive signals on clay and grass, Naomi Osaka arrives in Canada convinced that the work she has done is beginning to pay off. During the tournament's Media Day, she spoke about her progression, the influence of her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, and how her perspective has changed since those first steps on the circuit.
Naomi Osaka discussed several topics in Toronto
The US Open 2026 is her top priority
Osaka acknowledged that her performance in Washington has helped to reinforce her confidence, although she still feels she has room to continue improving in a tournament where she has historically not achieved great results.
"Obviously, I did better than last year in Washington, so I hope to continue on that line. Historically, I have not played especially well here, so I hope to change that this year. I expect to gain a lot of confidence heading into New York. I’ve been able to play two solid matches and I want to continue building from there."
"I lost my last match, but it helped me figure out exactly what I want to do and where I want to take my tennis. I hope to keep going down that path."
Osaka gives credit to her coach, Wiktorowski
"I am now a different player. On grass, I feel much more comfortable coming to the net, being aggressive, and accepting mistakes. I am curious to see how all of that can now transfer to my hard court tennis during this U.S. tour."
Much of that evolution she attributes to the work she is doing with Tomasz Wiktorowski, a coach who, as she explained, provides exactly what she needs. "It has been a very intense journey. I think he has drawn out my best tennis."
"He always tells me the truth. There are moments when my level drops, and he tells me directly: 'You need to react'. On the court, he is a fantastic coach. I feel that we work really well together, and I am very excited to keep growing with him."
With ambition at an all-time high and a confidence that continues to grow, Naomi Osaka looks to the future with optimism, feeling like a player with the experience necessary to tackle all the challenges that arise on the circuit. She will debut at the WTA 1000 Toronto 2026 against Hungarian Panna Udvardy, knowing that this tournament could be key to her aspirations for the US Open 2026, her top priority.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka: "Ahora ya sé hacia dónde quiero llevar mi tenis"